New wireless pressure gauge app increases convenience and safety

Emerson’s Plantweb Insight application provides streamlined view of networked Rosemount wireless pressure gauges, helping maintenance personnel stay informed and safe.

Emerson has announced a new Plantweb Insight application for wireless pressure gauges that displays data in an easy-to-understand dashboard for maintenance leads and instrumentation and electrical (I&E) personnel. An entire suite of Plantweb Insight applications collectively helps users quickly make sense of plant data and drive overall enterprise profitability.

This Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) application delivers field data from a fleet of wireless pressure gauges as frequently as once per minute. By keeping operators updated on changing conditions remotely, the app allows personnel to make fewer manual rounds and minimize their exposure to hazardous areas.

The gauge itself, the industry’s first WirelessHART® pressure gauge, utilizes industry-proven Rosemount pressure sensor technology to deliver reliable pressure readings. It provides up to 150x overpressure protection compared to traditional gauges using bourdon tube technology, and two layers of process isolation for a safer field environment. The gauge, which has a 10-year life, also reduces maintenance costs by eliminating common weak points found in mechanical gauges.

The new application is the latest addition to Emerson’s Plantweb™ digital ecosystem, a scalable portfolio of technologies, software, and services that take advantage of IIoT innovations to extend the benefits of automation beyond process control to the entire enterprise, improving operations, strengthening decision-making, and institutionalizing best-practices.

Easily integrated with a variety of WirelessHART gauges and remote field sensors, Plantweb Insight applications combine continuous, real-time data provided by Emerson’s Pervasive Sensing™ strategies with predictive analytics to give maintenance and operations personnel actionable, up-to-date process information in any location, improving reliability, safety, production, and energy management.

SMC’s flow and pressure valve reduces air consumption by up to 25%

SMC’s flow and pressure valves in the AS-R and AS-Q series cuts internal air consumption by up to 25 per cent.

Using these valves helps to shorten the response time of the return stroke and harmonises stroke movements to prevent a harsh jerky start.

In pressing applications, these valves enable a rapid supply of compressed air at the end of the stroke while the valve bodies and plug-and-socket connections can rotate 360° to ensure fast and easy installation.

Energy savings in the compressed air system

SMC’s range of pressure and flow valves includes six AS-R and five AS-Q models. SMC supplies these in R1/8, R1/4, R3/8 and R1/2 connection sizes and for hose diameters ranging from 6 to 12 mm.

Customers are able to choose between the new AS-R series with its fixed 2 bar supply pressure and the older ASR valves with fixed or variable set pressures depending on the application where pressures are adjusted manually using a handle with a three-part scale.

The pressure valve and flow valves are mounted together on cylinders. The AS-Q flow valve is installed on the working stroke side and the AS-R pressure valve on the return stroke side.

Both valve series have similar designs: the pressure valves consist of regulator, with a check valve and a throttle check valve. The flow valves in the AS-Q series contain a quick supply valve, an exhaust valve and a throttle check valve.

The bigger the cylinder, the greater the savings

AS-R/AS-Q valves are recommended for cylinders with a diameter of 32mm up to 125mm bore, and an inlet pressure of at least 3 Bar. What’s truly of value to customers is that savings increase with bigger cylinders or higher air consumption levels, and larger pressure differences between the working and return strokes.

A wide range of uses

SMC’s new energy-saving compressed air valves enable machine manufacturers to make their products more energy-efficient without making any fundamental design changes. Manufacturers who incorporate this technology can enjoy a competitive edge which in-turn translates into higher revenues.

 

High-performance industrial printers that improve operational visibility and productivity

Zebra Technologies has launched the new ZT600 and ZT510 industrial printers designed to withstand the harshest environments while delivering print quality and uptime.

The company has also announced Printer Profile Manager Enterprise, a browser-based remote printer management solution for Zebra Link-OS enabled printers that greatly reduces cost and management time.

The next-generation ZT610 and ZT620 maintain Zebra’s legacy of producing durable, reliable printers with fast print speeds that increase productivity in the retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics and healthcare industries.

KEY FACTS – ZT600-Series and ZT510 Printers

  • Building on the success of the Xi4 series, the ZT600 printer series offers new user-friendly features like simplified media and ribbon loading, a highly visible color display that shares printer status, and guided multi-media help that indicate errors to help users resolve issues quickly and increase printer uptime.
  • The ZT600 series runs Link-OS applications designed to streamline device deployment, network connectivity, daily use, and routine maintenance to optimise productivity.
  • Printer Profile Manager Enterprise enables IT staff to maintain Link-OS- enabled printers with the most up-to-date security and makes it easy to remotely manage, troubleshoot and configure fleets of Zebra printers from a single location, reducing operational expenses.
  • Zebra is also introducing the cost-effective ZT510 printer, ideal for applications that require a basic feature set, yet exceed expectations of high-quality printing and durability.
  • Zebra printers work best with Zebra Certified Supplies, including thermal labels, tags and stock RFID identifiers, are available to help ensure consistency, while lowering total cost of ownership and optimising printer performance.

 “Industrial printers play an essential role in a highly efficient supply chain, allowing enterprises to track every single component or asset from assembly to delivery and aftersales service,” said Jason Low, APAC lead for Specialty Printing Group, Zebra Technologies.

“The ZT600 and ZT500 series printers provide unparalleled quality, durability, and performance that can withstand any tough environments. Coupled with our Link-OS and the Printer Profile Manager Enterprise, Zebra is making printers easier to network, use, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot, ultimately improving productivity and operational efficiency.”

Faro’s next gen QuantumS and QuantumM

Faro has introduced the new Faro QuantumS and QuantumM FaroArms. These introductions extends Faro leadership in value and performance in the manufacturing inspection process through best in class performance and durability, enhanced ergonomics and extreme portability.

QuantumS

The QuantumS is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016, the most rigorous international measurement quality standard in existence. This global standard, unlike the various regional standards such as VDI/VDE 2617, establishes the consistent, critical testing procedures that enable objective performance comparisons across any and all Articulated Arm Coordinate Measuring devices.

The QuantumS sets a new standard for ruggedness as it tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068 -2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief.

QuantumM

The QuantumM version rounds out the next generation FaroArm portfolio led by the QuantumS FaroArm, which was announced a few weeks prior.

The Quantum M includes the same, high performance functionality as its portfolio companion with an accuracy specification that makes it an exceptional mid-market alternative for applications that do not require the high performance specifications of the QuantumS.

The QuantumM is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016, the most rigorous international measurement quality standard in existence and tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068-2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief. It also includes the FAROBlu Laser Line Probe HD, the next generation of blue line laser technology that enables five times faster scanning than the previous generation, including complex surfaces comprised of dark and reflective materials.

 

The QuantumM is easy to maneuver as it is 20 per cent lighter in the hand than its predecessors and immediately ready to use as it requires no warm up time. This ensures better productivity in the inspection, design and manufacturing process by enabling operators to work longer and more comfortably.

 

The QuantumM enables continuous operation anywhere on the factory floor with industrial grade wireless connectivity and dual, hot swappable batteries to support continuous operation anywhere on the factory floor without the need for external power.

Faro Introduces SCENE 7.0

3D measurement specialists, Faro has announced the availability of the Faro SCENE 7.0 software platform. SCENE 7.0 includes similar functions of the high quality, high value functionality offered by its predecessor, SCENE 6.2, such as automatic object recognition, scan registration and position, and takes it a step further with integrated real time, on-site registration, for Faro Focus Scanner 3D point clouds.

The unique value of SCENE 7.0 can be realised by diverse industries, including architecture, engineering, construction and public safety or any industry where there is a premium placed on capturing/scanning, analysing and enhancing 3D data.

Previously, the process of taking an actual scan in the field, transferring that scan to a computer workstation/PC to start using the data was a three-step process. The project 3D scan data was stored on physical SD cards at the project site. Then the user would bring the SD card to the office and physically insert the SD card into a workstation/PC for download.  Finally, the scans, once all loaded from the SD cards, would be registered (i.e., logically integrated into a cohesive set of data points on the computer workstation/PC in the office and then the data would finally be ready for use).

SCENE 7.0 supports a seamless, more efficient process. Real time, on-site registration enables the 3D scan data, whether it be from a single scan or multiple scans in process simultaneously, to be wirelessly transmitted (i.e., no SD cards needed) directly to an onsite computer workstation/PC in real time. Additionally, the scans are automatically aligned on the workstation/PC computer in real time, in the field.  This enables user benefits such as:

  • Improved Productivity:In-office data processing has been dramatically reduced and, in some cases, eliminated altogether. Users come back to the office with a registered product and can get to work immediately. Additionally, the larger the project or the more scans required, the greater the realised efficiencies, in terms of project cycle time and human resources on site.
  • EnhancedConfidence:  Focus Scanner users are now able to preview scans/projects while still in the field, confirm that all of their project requirements have been accounted for while still in the field and make any necessary adjustments in the field in real time.

“SCENE 7.0 is unquestionably the most advanced software platform of its kind. It significantly elevates the productivity of the Focus Laser Scanner user well beyond what is available for any hardware and software solution package for cost efficient 3D data capture, processing and analysis,” according to Joseph Arezone, Faro chief commercial officer. “Real time, on-site registration is a major milestone but just one of the efficiency enhancing features, including ‘smart’ filtering that removes valuable hours from point cloud clean up and drives significant reductions in post processing time,” he said.

New ultra-tight thief hatch reducing storage tank emissions

Emerson Automation Solutions has introduced a new spring-loaded thief hatch for use on low-pressure storage tanks in oil and gas and other industries.

Storage tanks can emit vapors to the environment, which has resulted in tighter regulations and the need for improved emissions control from storage tank devices.

To address this challenge, thethe Enardo ES-665 has been engineered with increased sealing forces, as well as with a tight and consistent fit of the sealing surfaces.

The resulting emissions performance of the Enardo ES-665 thief hatch is an industry-leading 0.10 SCFH (standard cubic feet/hour) at 90 per cent of set-point.

Along with Emerson’s other tight-sealing storage tank solutions, it also helps conserve tank contents as well as pressure and vacuum relief to accommodate tank pressure changes that occur under normal conditions.

In addition to its ultra-tight emissions performance, the ES-665 includes:

  • An available centre assembly for improved performance of previously installed models
  • Multiple relief settings and material options for application flexibility
  • A latching and lockable lid for added security and safety

Results are based on testing at ambient conditions in accordance with API (American Petroleum Institute) 2000 and competitive published data.

public safety

Software for public safety professionals

Faro has announced the availability of its Zone 3D software. This platform is the first of its kind to enable investigators to move fluidly between 2D and 3D environments, and enhance the quality of incident reconstruction analysis or presentations for public safety professionals, according to the company.

The software elevates the visual impact of presentations, including courtroom exhibits, by enabling accurate 2D and 3D scene diagrams, 3D scene walk-throughs, and full scene reconstruction animations.

It also enhances the ability of public safety professionals to plan for, and respond more effectively to emergencies by creating accurate representations of real-world locations within local communities.

Key features:

Advanced smart tools to drive a more confident result

  • Precise diagramming and measurement tools
  • Blood spatter analysis tools
  • Bullet trajectory analysis tools
  • Dynamic momentum and skid crashanalysis tools
  • Vehicle crush analysis tools
  • Accurate scene replication with more than 10 million 3D models included or imported from free, online sources
  • Accurate 2D and 3D animations and walk-throughs

Enhanced flexibility to drive a faster result

  • Easily draw and edit in 3D or in 2D and see both views simultaneously
  • Explore “what if” animation scenarios in real time with exact measurements taken from the scene
  • Quickly and simply import measurement data from other sources such as drones, satellite maps, or laser scanners
  • Import Faro laser scan data directly from Faro Scene software
  • Backwards compatibility with Faro CAD Zone and ARAS applications

Solder paste formula provides reliable solution for RFID bonding

Precision fluid dispensing systems manufacturer Nordson has released a new solder paste formula to improve bond reliability for various electronic cards.

Applications such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, dual interface (DI) smart cards, and biometric passports require attaching an antenna electrically connected to a chip.

Manufacturers often use a silver filled epoxy to bond these components; a method which requires a curing process and can affect bond strength if not enough time is allotted for complete curing.

Other process considerations include low storage temperature requirements of minus 32°F (0°C).

Nordson’s SolderPlus paste is faster and easier because there is no curing time required. Also, solder paste can be stored at a higher temperature, requiring less time to thaw.

While a bending test is often used to determine the lifetime of an RFID card, solder paste simulates what can happen when a card is bent in a wallet to determine at what point electrical disconnection happens.

“The test indicates a SolderPlus bond lasts for more than 20,000 cycles of use,” said Philippe Mysson, Nordson EFD’s business development manager.

“That is equivalent to about 10 years in a wallet. Silver filled epoxy bonds last roughly 1,000 cycles or six months.”

In addition, the chemistry of solder paste makes it safer to use when compared to the chemistry of silver filled epoxy, which contains toxic materials.

Solder paste is also much less expensive because it contains no silver.

“We believe each of these factors make our specialised formula of EFD SolderPlus dispense paste a more reliable, cost-effective alternative to other methods used in RFID bonding applications,” Mysson said.

“The reliability of solder joints is 20 times better than existing standard connections.

“When paired with faster production time, this allows DI smart card and RFID tag manufacturers to improve the quality and reliability of their product while meeting increasing consumer demand.”

Backplane Systems Technology launches new fanless computer series

Backplane Systems Technology has launched Neousys Technology’s Ultra Compact Atom and Pentium Apollo Lake Fanless Embedded Computer, the POC-300 Series.

The POC-300 Series is a fanless PC controller with ultra-compact dimensions (149 x 105 x 57mm), with a footprint similar in size to a 3.5 inch hard disk drive.

Powered by the new Intel Apollo Lake Pentium N4200 and Atom E3950, the POC-300 is capable of supporting a maximum of 8GB memory to meet the demands of high performance applications.

The isolated I/O provides users with connectivity for digital devices, while the considered interior design minimizes compatibility and cabling issues.

The POC-300 supports rich I/O interfaces and features include four COM ports, four USB ports (three USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0), four isolated digital I/Os, two PoE Gigabit Ethernet ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port and one mSATA port.

The POC-300 also provides one Mini-PCIe slot with one USIM socket for wireless requirements and supports Neousys’ patented MezIO Module System allowing users to add many expandable modules to the system; these include extra COM Ports or an additional PCIe socket.

The POC-300 Series’ performance-enhancing mechanical and thermal design, improves the heat dissipation more efficiency by utilizing an aluminum alloy chassis.

Supporting industrial SSD storage, the POC-300 meets an extended operating temperature range of -25 to +70°C suitable for harsh Australian environments.

Seeley International release new “clever technologies” range

Seeley International has unveiled new “clever technologies” that offer “great design flexibility”.

The new VRF range extends Seeley International’s current offering of refrigerated products under the Braemar brand and complements other commercial products. 

“The new Braemar Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) range is perfectly suited for luxury homes and apartments, and commercial projects, and includes mini VRF, heat pump and heat recovery systems that feature high efficiency partial load performance meaning an outstanding energy-efficiency,” said Seeley International Founder and Executive Chairman, Frank Seeley.

“With regards to our ducted gas heating range, ongoing innovation is a critical part of our DNA.  Seeley International’s team of engineers have taken our award-winning Braemar ducted gas heating range to the next level by developing new ULPG models that better cope with propane/butane gas quality variation.”

 The Braemar winter campaign includes ducted gas heating advertising featuring digital and TV advertising, as well as online video content and is set to start on April 1.

Seeley International is also offering a bonus $200 cashback on 5, 6 and 7-star equivalent heaters when purchased from selected dealers until April 30, 2017.

 The new products include:

  • New 7 star equivalent TQS720 21kW ducted gas heater – which is ideally suited for medium sized homes, and partners with the Braemar TQS730 26.6kW to create a 7 star equivalent heating range to suit more installations.
  • New side access 4 and 5 star ducted gas heaters, 20 kW, 27.8 kW and 28 kW models –  which are designed for tight roof spaces, where access to the top of the heater is difficult. The clever design allows easy access to serviceable parts via the side of the unit.
  • Re-launch of the ReBuff downflow 3 and 5-star ducted gas heaters – developed as the perfect replacement for a Buffalo or other downflow heater, these 3 and 5 star downflow heaters come standard with a gas pipe for easy gas connection, and are also available with a simple flashing kit that makes it so easy to install on an existing plenum.
  • New VRF air conditioning range – which expands the Braemar premium refrigerated range to include mini VRF systems, heat pumps and heat recovery systems, to achieve perfect comfort in luxury homes and apartments, and commercial projects. In addition to offering flexible installation options for high ceilings and contemporary home and apartment designs, the partial load performance of the 5th generation VRF technology delivers outstanding energy-efficiency airflow performance.
  • New MagIQtouch Controller – now available in an all-white design to complement modern interiors, the updated touch screen controller has undergone significant improvements to the ICS electronics and zone board, to enhance reliability and product quality on all Braemar TQ heaters even further . Wireless radio frequency and the option of a Wi-Fi smartphone app will be introduced later in 2017.

Latest in Vantage Laser Tracker series

3D measurement and imaging specialist Faro has announced the release of their next generation of laser trackers. According to Faro, the latest  Vantage product family of laser trackers sets a new price/performance standard for addressing challenges in large-scale metrology including, but not limited to, assembly alignment, part and assembly inspection, machine installation and alignment, and reverse engineering.

The product family consists of two models, the VantageE with an operating range of 25 metres and the VantageS with an operating range of 80 metres. Both compact models offer industry leading portability with an integrated master control unit (MCU), hot swappable batteries that eliminate the need for AC power and cabling, and industrial grade Wi-Fi for reliable, wireless communications. This set of advanced features, along with a single carrying case, enables easy transport between job sites and/or locations within the factory by a single user.

faro-vantage

The new Vantage laser tracker platform utilises Faro RemoteControls for advanced control of the system using a mobile phone or tablet device. The mobile device not only controls the movements of the laser tracker but also delivers enhanced functionality such as live video feed from targeting cameras so that a single operator can now easily control the laser tracker from anywhere in the measurement area. Also included are innovative workflow management features such as remote accuracy checks and programmable remote warm-up so the user can schedule the device to turn on in advance and make it ready for immediate operation when the operator arrives.

Both FaroVantageS and VantageE fully support Faro’s Super 6DoF (Degrees of Freedom) TrackArm solution, which enables a Vantage Tracker and a Faro ScanArm, or multiple ScanArms, to work together to create an integrated 3D measurement solution across a single coordinate system. Super 6DoF completely eliminates line-of sight challenges and significantly expands measurement range while maintaining superior accuracy with two instruments-in-one operation.

“The new Faro Vantage Laser Tracker product line is proven effective for the most environmentally challenging applications as it is tested to rigorous International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for shock and vibration, tested for extreme thermal conditions and is IP52 rated for dust and water resistance,” stated Simon Raab, president and CEO of Faro. 

New laser cutting system

Manufacturing is an industry that requires precision and speed.

The more you can produce, with high levels of accuracy and quality, the more your business will prosper.

What slows a business down and creates unnecessary costs is double handling, potentially having workers do the same task twice to ensure quality.

Added to this is the continual cost of time, as well as energy costs associated with repeating tasks.

Traditional welding and metal cutting gets the job done, but is it good enough?

Laser and plasma cutting also gets the job done, but it provides a quicker, cleaner, more precise cut within millimeters, not only ensuring accuracy but cutting the potential of double handling.

Hypertherm, a U.S. based manufacturer of advanced cutting systems, have announced the release of a new 3 kW fiber laser system for increased accuracy and lower energy costs.

The HyIntensity Fiber Laser HFL030 has been designed with a recommended cut capacity of 20mm for mild steel, 12mm for stainless steel, and 10mm for aluminum.

The HFL030 is specifically optimised for cutting applications. It comes with pre-developed cutting processes, and all the components needed for simplifying table integration and operation. As a result, the company says the system can cut thicker materials faster than many higher powered competitive systems.

In other words, Hypertherm’s 3 kW system has the cut capacity of other 4 kW fiber laser system, using less energy than 4KW systems but without sacrificing cut quality.

The system uses a low maintenance solid-state laser source to generate a laser beam which is then delivered through a fibre optic cable to the laser head. The glass fibre transfers the beam with a focus quality tailored for cutting metal.

When compared with CO2 laser systems, the fibre laser cutting process simplifies table design requirements and integration. Operating costs, thanks in part to the high energy efficiency of the fibre laser and maintenance requirements which are virtually nonexistent, are also much lower than with current CO2 lasers.

“HyIntensity Fiber Laser system are easily integrated into a wide range of cutting machine types, allowing service centres and fabricators to expand their business by adding high‑precision fine feature cutting to their operations,” Doug Shuda, product marketing manager for Hypertherm’s fibre laser products, explained.

With the ability to pre-set cutting parameters with a full range of materials including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, the new system is tightly integrated for ease of operation that ensures consistent automatic cutting processes.

Additionally, the system is able to cut and mark with the same consumables, which makes for easy process changeover and more efficient operations.

The laser cut technology can also be combined with plasma to deliver higher productivity for most plate applications.

According to the company, the system will make it easier for companies to use laser cutting for their fine feature cutting requirements

All of the HyIntensity systems were developed and manufactured by Hypertherm in the United States, making Hypertherm the only company to offer both laser and plasma cutting expertise in a single package.

Hypertherm designs and manufactures advanced cutting products for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive repair. Its product line includes handheld and mechanised plasma systems and consumables, as well as fibre laser and now waterjet products, in addition to CNC motion and height controls and CAM cutting software.

High-pressure ball valve

HYDAC has released a 15,000psi stainless steel high-pressure ball valve.

The valve is made of high strength, corrosive resistant materials. The 1” (2.5cm) full bore valve is designed to increase flow rates in order to allow deeper oil/gas drilling capabilities.

The trunion ball design reduces the amount of torque required, and the compact design minimises space, piping and weight, which is critical for offshore applications.

According to HYDAC, the ball valve is maintenance-free due to proprietary design. The process of exchanging valves is simple, as welding is not required due to Grayloc design or Butt Weld. The valve is prepared for actuator adaption ISO5211.

Flexi Narrow Aisle Articulated Forklift

Flexi Narrow Aisle Forklifts have been designed to combine the features of a reach truck with those of a standard counterbalance truck. This unique hybrid forklift can operate just fine in the loading yard outside as well as indoors in extremely restricted aisles.

The narrow aisle articulated forklift by Flexi enabling quicker production in narrower spaces

  • Available in electric (easily removed rear battery) or LPG
  • Designed for indoor and outdoor operations
  • Does the work of a turret truck, reach truck and counterbalance forklift without requiring wire guidance or guide rails
  • Basic capacity of 2000 kg
  • Lift heights to 12 metres with 1000 kg capacity
  • Clear view triplex mast design provides maximum visibility at all stages of operation
  • Adjustable steering and seat position provide a comfortable working environment
  • Easily accessible controllers and motors for simple and quick servicing without having to remove the battery
  • Battery options available for shift and heavy work requirements
  • Camera available for height accuracy
  • Available in special configurations such as Flameproof, cold storage
  • AC units now available
  • All forklifts come with grammar suspension seat
  • Integrated sideshift
  • Strong and proven David Brown differential from the U.S.
  • Durable long lasting large cushion tyres
  • Exceptional clear vision of pallet load whilst at height
  • Backed by a National Service Network of dealers throughout Australia
  • Compact – The Flexi Narrow Aisle needs only 1800 mm compared with 2800mm for a standard reach truck.

Compact: Increased warehouse capacity by 30% + due to reduced aisle widths. The Flexi Narrow Aisle forklift allows you to easily reduce your aisle widths and thereby avoid a costly warehouse house extension or relocation.

Speedy: The Flexi Narrow Aisle Articulated Forklift is 20% faster than conventional reach trucks. It is also 50% faster than conventional moving mast reach trucks when off-loading curtain sided vehicles.

Versatile: The Flexi Narrow Aisle Articulated Forklift can unload pallets from deliveries outside, and then take them straight into the warehouse shelving.

Increased Productivity: The Flexi Narrow Aisle Forklift gets the job done faster with no double handling.

Find out more, click here.

Flagship lift truck reaches new heights for operators

Yale’s new MR reach truck pushes levels of productivity and dependability to new heights for warehouse operators while squeezing cost of ownership to an absolute minimum.

Redesigned from the ground up by one of the industry’s most respected materials handling equipment manufacturers, Yale’s new MR redefines the standards warehouse managers and forklift operatives can expect of a modern reach truck in a striking range that is both highly productive and pleasing to the eye.

After over 55,000 hours of product development – including operation in the warehouses of some of the world’s most demanding end users and a rigorous test cycle of over one million operations – the new MR reach truck is unlike anything else on the market.

Featuring a new chassis, new mast design, new operator compartment and new control systems, the new MR series truly sets a standard others will find difficult to follow.

The new truck’s best-in-class maximum travel speed of 14km/h and lift speed of 0.8m/sec, coupled with its unbeatable maneuverability and ease of use will help users achieve the very greatest productivity: test cycles have demonstrated that the new MR can deposit and retrieve more loads per hour than all major rivals.

A unique new design of mast channel on which a patent is pending offers improved deration performance as loads are raised while reducing mast deflection to a minimum.

This allows smaller capacity trucks to be used for lift heights that would previously have required substantially larger and more expensive models.

A wide access step and dedicated grab handles help operators enter and exit the truck smoothly – unlike some competitors’ products which force drivers to negotiate a 500mm-plus jump between cabin and ground level.

Flagship Lift Truck Reaches New Heights for OperatorsOnce inside the operator’s compartment, the generous leg room, new high-quality fully adjustable full suspension seat (which reduces transmission of vibration from uneven floor conditions), adjustable armrest with integral mini-lever module and adjustable steering column all help operators to stay relaxed and comfortable.

When it comes to keeping drivers aware of critical truck information, the new MR is, once again, ahead of the competition with its unique, industry first optional touch screen display, which provides the operator with information on the truck’s status from battery charge and direction of truck movement to mast position and load weight, and allows easy tailoring of the truck’s operational performance characteristics.

The standard display module with LCD screen, carried over from Yale’s successful electric counterbalanced truck range, also provides truck status information and performance mode selection.

Visibility from the operator’s seat has also been enhanced, with the MR’s unique new mast channels not only helping to increase residual capacities but providing better line of sight than ever before, both forwards and when looking up through the overhead guard. Operators will also appreciate the smooth, quiet transition of the mast sections.

Easy preventative maintenance has also been designed into the new MR, with long service intervals, component commonality across the Yale range and straightforward access to the major components all helping to maintain maximum uptime and keep the costs involved in servicing to a minimum.

Commenting on the launch of the new model, Warehouse Product Strategy Leader Robert O’Donoghue said its innovative design, outstanding productivity, leading use of technology and tailored ergonomics would make it “the reach truck of choice for every fleet manager” in the future.

“This truck’s high levels of performance, sector-leading ergonomics and low lifetime costs will help Yale customers achieve increased productivity while reducing their fleet size, lowering their energy consumption, achieving a faster return on investment and boosting their profitability,” he added. “This really is a reach truck that sets new standards in the market.”

Siemens’ LMS software enables structural analysis on Airbus A350 XWB aircraft

Software from LMS, a Siemens business, has played a major role in the A350-900 structural analysis process, resulting in the software’s expanded use in other Airbus projects.

Airbus created a common stress analysis environment based on LMS Samtech Caesam, one of Siemens’ computer-aided engineering (CAE) software solutions.

For the A350-900 structural development and certification, LMS Caesam provided the foundation for deploying Airbus harmonised methods to over 2000 stress engineers at more than 50 worldwide suppliers.

LMS Caesam provides a single framework that integrates all Airbus processes, methods, tools and data libraries, replacing over 400 tools.

The A350-900, part of the A350 XWB family, is the first Airbus aircraft developed using the company’s common environment known as ISAMI (Improved Structural Analysis through Multidisciplinary Integration).

The ISAMI environment ensures consistency in the A350 structural analysis and certification process. ISAMI is based on the LMS Caesam framework, which is part of the LMS Samtech suite of simulation solutions.

The LMS Caesam framework has helped Airbus tackle its three main challenges on structure analysis – harmonization, automation and deployment.

It manages and automates engineering processes for safety margin calculation, giving a substantial time-cost benefit over the full design cycle. The framework allows the integration of harmonised sizing processes and tools, capitalizing on company know-how.

Furthermore, LMS Caesam is tailored to help aerospace manufacturers manage structural analysis work streams that result from the growing global supply chain.

As a result of the LMS Caesam platform’s success with ISAMI, its use has now been extended to perform detailed structural sizing and certification for the A350-1000 and the A320neo.

Additionally, Airbus – together with Siemens’ LMS business segment – has developed a new tool to help estimate aircraft weight early in the development process.

Also based on LMS Caesam, PRESTO (Pre-sizing of Structures for Trade-Offs) is used by Airbus for preliminary aircraft sizing. The use of PRESTO on the A350-1000 has already shown a significant time saving over the previous method.

LMS is a business segment within Siemens PLM Software and was acquired by Siemens in January 2013.

[Image: Siemens]

Touch screen controller provides full monitoring of dust collection equipment

A new Touch Screen Controller from Camfil Air Pollution Control (APC) provides full monitoring and control of all functions of an industrial dust collector and associated equipment. 

The controller is equipped with a touch screen interface that allows ready access to all of its functions.  It is designed for use with Farr Gold Series dust collectors, or other types of collectors if integrated with a motor starter or variable frequency drive (VFD) package.

A built-in differential pressure sensor monitors the primary filter pressure drop. Four analog inputs can be used to monitor the secondary filter as well as other devices such as leak detectors, flow meters and compressed air pressure monitors. Six digital inputs are also included to monitor hopper level, smoke detection, remote cleaning and other functions. 

Four relay outputs are provided to signal faults from any of the digital or analog inputs or from internal device faults. The 4-20 milliamp output will remotely monitor air flow or pass through any analog input to a remote location. The controller can also monitor fan power consumption, and can provide data logging of system performance with multi-language capability.

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Contain spills and leaks

The Commonwealth replaced the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011(WHS Act)  in January 2012.

At the same time a number of legislative instruments that support the new Act were also introduced including the WHS Regualtions and the WHS Approved Codes of Practice.

The WHS Act and Legislative Instruments have now been harmonised across most Australian states and territories.
These  laws and regulations reflect the growing understanding that workplace spills are both an environment protection and a workplace health and safety issue.

Section 357 of the WHS regulations, entitled “Spills and Damage” requires a spill containment system in each part of the workplace where there is a risk of spill or leak.

It goes on to say that, “The person must ensure that the spill containment system does not create a hazard by bringing together different hazardous chemicals that are not compatible.”

This section on the Regulation also states that, “The person must ensure that the spill containment system provides for the cleanup and disposal of a hazardous chemical that spills or leaks, and any resulting effluent.” A maximum penalty of $30,000 applies to a breach of this section.

Spill containment pallets from Spill Station are a cost effective and flexible method of ensuring that spills and leaks are contained. The modular design of these units ensures that spill catchment areas are segregated to prevent incompatible chemical from coming into contact. They are suitable for containers of up to 1000 litres.

Spill Station spill kits are ideal to ensure that you are able to clean up any spills that do occur. A variety of models are available so you can address a spill of any type or size. A complete spill kit training package is available at no additional cost when you purchase a Spill Station spill kit.

DeltaPac reliably detects objects in a gapless product flow

Up to now, it was generally necessary to separate packages in order to count or detect them with the aid of, for example, photoelectric sensors.

With the DeltaPac, such a separation, which often involved complex mechanisms in conveyor systems, is now a thing of the past.

This is made possible by SICK’s patented Delta-S-Technology. Two energy scales each with two receivers and four PinPoint2.0 LEDs combined with SICK’s specific SIRIC ASIC technology and integrated distance measurement.

The DeltaPac’s principle of operation makes use of edge contours of objects. The edges cause the reflective behaviour of the packaging surface to change in the gapless transition from one object to another.

This changed direction of reflectivity is used for the output of switching signals. Object contours with radii up to 20 mm are reliably identified. The DeltaPac’s high-precision evaluation characteristic ensures that smallest changes in angles are reliably detected. Thus, it is possible to reliably identify up to 200,000 packages per hour with conveyor speeds up to 3 m/s.

The fact that the DeltaPac is able to detect objects aligned in a push-push configuration offers new possibilities in the construction of packaging machines. Machine elements for packaging buffering and separation mechanisms are no longer needed.

This saves costs and improves the space utilisation of the machine. The product flow is stabilised because collisions due to falling packages are reduced. Machine downtime, incorrect loading when grouping items and loss of quality due to crashes are reliably prevented – with a positive effect on time, energy and availability utilisation of the packaging machine.

SICK has met the requirements of manufacturers of packaging machines in terms of pre-configured devices by enabling fast commissioning without making any settings or specific process optimisation by tailored configuration.

Mount, connect, detect – the user will not have to grapple with comprehensive operating instructions. The sensor version with IO-Link allows to configure the sensor according to the application conditions, e.g. for various packages.

Side-by-side conveyance, differentiation, gapless counting and detection are possible with the DeltaPac.

Self-Contained Showers and Eye Wash Units

Self-Contained Showers and Eye Wash Units

The self-contained showers or eye wash units are Enware’s non-plumbed solution to enhancing your workplace safety.

High performance and independently tested for ANSI Z358.1-2009 and AS4775-2007 compliance standard
Enware has self contained systems to suit any requirement and environment.

The EM850 is a re-locatable, fully self-contained solar battery powered, pumped safety shower and eyewash unit. The robust design and reliable performance of the unit in a wide range of temperatures, ensures the unit can withstand the harshest dessert environments. This makes it the perfect solution for the mining, oil and gas, defence and heavy duty industries where these services are limited.

Some key features include:

·         No need for mains power connection

·         No need for plumbing connection

·         solar battery charging for use in remote locations Self monitoring alerts system visible from distance

·         Integrated pallet for portability with a fork and lugs fro crane lifting

·         Red light and audio alarm to indicate emergency equipment in use

·         LED display to show water level, battery power and water temperature